A process for converting a cellulosic material into crystalline cellulose

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to the preparation of microcrystalline cellulose products (crystallinity of at least 78%) via enzymatic hydrolysis of certain cellulosic materials. The invention further relates to the enzymatic production of said microcrystalline cellulose exhibiting high crystallinity at LOPD.

2. State of the Art

[0002] Crystalline cellulose, or MCC, defined as cellulose with a crystallinity of at least 78%, has a wide variety of applications such as tabletting excipient, anti-caking aids, filler, carrier, formation of stable dispersions (alone in co-processed forms with other materials such as CMC, whey protein and so on), source of fiber, etc., for the food, pharmacy, and cosmetic industries.

[0003] The current commercially available forms of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) are produced from a high grade of dissolving pulps and hydrolyzed to LODP of about 200-300 and contain crystallinities as measured by x-ray diffraction of greater than 78%. They are produced, as described by US Patent No. 2978446 to Battista, et al., by subjecting wood pulp containing amorphous and crystalline forms of cellulose to acid hydrolysis at elevated temperature, usually in 2.5 normal hydrochloric acid, on the order of 105°C or greater, for about 15 minutes to one hour, followed by mechanical disintegration of the cellulose hydrolysate. The process is generally carried out by hydrolyzing a pure grade of wood pulp with hydrochloric acid in order to prevent the formation of undesirable by-products from secondary reactions. The hydrolysis reaction removes amorphous cellulose and reduces the degree of polymerization of the cellulose chain leaving a substantially insoluble material, which is commonly referred to in the art as "level-off degree of polymerization" (LODP) cellulose.

[0004] The LODP value is dependent primarily upon the starting cellulosic material and to a lesser extent upon the severity of the hydrolyzing conditions. In general, the LODP of native cellulose fibers is in the range of between about 200-400, whereas that derived from regenerated cellulose lies in the range of from 25 to about 60.

[0005] It has been the general view of those knowledgeable about the manufacture and applications of microcrystalline cellulose powder that the only way to achieve the LODP value for a given cellulosic material, with crystallinity above about 78%, was by acid hydrolysis, as described above. This view was based primarily on the belief that only inorganic acids had the requisite reactivity and accessibility to attack the more tightly bound portions of the cellulose structure, and produce LODP cellulose at high crystallinity of 78% or more. It was previously thought that microcrystalline cellulose could not be produced at other than the LODP of the starting material.

[0006] In the prior art, although other methods of cellulose degradation, e.g., enzymatic hydrolysis, have been studied and reported on, such methods have not been considered appropriate for commercial microcrystalline cellulose powder production with LODP because they have not produced crystallinity above 78%.

[0007] In U.S. Patent No. 4,427,778 (Zabriskie), a method using cellulase for making cellulose powder suitable for tabletting was described using a pH of about 4-5 at temperatures around 50°C. DP's were obtained down to about 880 or so, and the percent crystallinity reported never got above about 75%, i.e., never made microcrystalline cellulose and never achieved LODP.

[0008] JP-A-55165901 discloses an enzymatic method of producing colour free cellulose in which little or no change in the degree of polymerization was observed.

[0009] Some difficulties with the acid hydrolysis method are the energy required to boil the acid, the corrosive nature of the acid, the inability to control the reaction and the inability to obtain DP's other than LODP. In addition, a problem with the previous enzymatic method is that crystallinity greater than 75% is never achieved and DP's below about 880 are not seen.

[0010] The present invention provides an enzymatic route to producing LODP MCC enzymatical for use as an alternative in the manufacture of various articles.

[0011] It is also now possible to produce MCC at greater than 78% crystallinity and greater than LODP.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] It has now been discovered that cellulosic raw materials such as purified wood pulps with starting DP's of about 1100-1300 may be converted to LODP microcrystalline cellulose by the use of endo-cellulose type activities achieving LODP's in the range of 200-300. It is also disclosed that this cellulose hydrolysis treatment yields highly crystalline materials in the order of 78% or higher by x-ray diffraction which is the normal value for crystallinity or commercial MCC produced via acid hydrolysis.

[0013] Enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose to its highly crystalline breakdown product (MCC) in the present invention has advantage over prior art such as acid hydrolysis in that the enzymatic process is less drastic a method of achieving LODP and can be carried out with less extreme pH conditions. In the present invention advantage over previous enzymatic hydrolysis is achieved by the ability of the invention to achieve LODP of cellulose coupled with high crystallinities required for MCC production.

[0014] Accordingly, the present invention relates to a process for converting a cellulosic material to crystalline cellulose comprising subjecting a wetlap pulp cellulosic material, which has never been dried, to hydrolysis using a cellulase enzyme at a temperature of 35-75°C, and at a pH of from 2.0 to 4.0, for a time sufficient to form crystalline cellulose having a degree of polymerization (DP) from 800 down to the level-off degree of polymerization (LODP) of the starting material.

[0015] The process may be run for sufficient time such that the DP of the crystalline cellulose is greater than the LODP achievable with the cellulosic material and less than 75% of the original DP.

[0016] The process may be run for a sufficient time to form a cellulose having a crystallinity of at least about 85%.

[0017] In a further aspect, the present invention provides crystalline cellulose as obtained by the above process.

[0018] The process herein not only produces compositions not heretofore achievable with prior processes but produces crystalline cellulose without employing extended temperature reaction conditions and therefore production may be possible at reduced capital and operating costs. Unlike previous enzymatic processes, a higher degree of crystallinity can be achieved, as well as degradation down to LODP.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] Various grades and forms of wetlap pulp cellulosic materials may be used as the starting material in the process of the present invention without the occurrence of undesired side reactions because of the specificity of the enzyme. Such materials include natural sources of cellulose or products derived from natural sources of cellulose. Results can be obtained using readily available cellulosic raw materials, such as a dissolving-grade of wood pulp, muslin cloth, exploded wood pulp and cotton linters. Concerning these raw materials, the dissolving-grade of wood pulp is a highly refined material used in the commercial preparation of microcrystalline cellulose and is the raw material of preference for this invention. Muslin cloth is similar to cotton trim ends, which is a waste material in the manufacture of cotton fabrics. Exploded wood pulp is a cellulose material which has undergone treatment with steam at high temperature and pressure followed by an explosive decompression step. This latter treatment of exploded wood pulp has been reported to remove hemicellulose, expose lignin and to increase the reactive surface area of the material. It is beneficial to further subject the exploded wood pulp to an alkali-alcohol extraction to remove lignin.

[0020] The cellulosic material in this invention is wetlap pulp, i.e., undried pulp, pulp slurry or other hydrated plant cellulosic material which has never been dried at any point in the pulp processing, obtained from normal pulp or plant processing methods in such a way that: dehydration or moisture removal from the material is minimized and high cellulose content achieved. The wet ground material preparation in this invention prior to drying can be obtained from normal pulp or plant processing methods. An example is Sulfatate H-J pulp obtained as wetlap from southern hardwoods by the prehydrolyzed sulfate process of ITT Rayonier.

[0021] Enzymes for use in the method of the invention have endo-cellulosic activity and are available from various native microbial and, more recently, recombinant microbial sources. These include commercial preparation of cellulase (a combination of several different enzymes having both endo- and exo-cellulosic activity) or cellulase which have been enriched with particular components having endo-cellulosic activity or modified to reduce or remove a particular component having exo-cellulosic activity. Endo-cellulosic activity selectively removes the amorphous regions of the cellulose. Exo-cellulosic activity acts to remove crystalline portions and is, therefore, less desirable. A rich source of cellulase is from the organism Trichoderma viride and several commercial preparations are available including those with enriched endo-cellulosic activity. The preferred concentration of enzyme would be from about 100ppm to about 5000ppm of enzyme where the cellulosic material is present at a concentration of from about 0.25 g/l to 75 g/l. Preferred is Cellulase 123 from Genencor International, Inc. where the product is added in about 0.5 g/l to about 4.0 g/l. Even more preferred is a cellulase material that is CBHI and/or CBHII deleted. One skilled in the art would realize that various enzymes have different specific activities and as such, differing amounts are necessary to achieve the same result. However, determining the precise amount of enzyme is well within the scope of the art in view of the teachings of the invention.

[0022] Enzymatic hydrolysis of the invention is carried out in an aqueous solution, and at a temperature of from about 35-75°C, preferably between 40-60°C and most preferably between about 50° C to about 60° C. The hydrolysis is critically carried out at a pH of from about 2-4 and preferably from about pH 2.5-3.5, and most preferably from about pH 2.5-3.0.

[0023] The exact time for the hydrolysis reaction will vary depending on the nature of the starting material, the pH and the amount and specific activity of the enzyme, but in general the desired result can be achieved within 24 hours or less. Various processing conditions, including but not limited to time, temperature, pH, pulp type and enzyme concentration will produce MCC. These conditions can also produce a range of products such that a crystalline cellulose having 78% crystallinity or more is produced with a DP ranging from the native starting DP of the cellulosic material down to the LODP. After hydrolysis, mechanical disintegration (e.g., by shearing) of the crystalline cellulosic material effects a variety of achievable particle sizes. This is especially useful in the production of microcrystalline cellulose.

[0024] After hydrolysis and shearing, another critical processing step necessary for MCC production, as described by Battista, is the drying of the cellulose, either by conventional techniques or subjecting it to spray drying or according to other drying methods well known in the art or formulated accordingly. The final product can be used in a wide variety of products including tablet making, adhesive binders, dry lubricants, emulsion stabilizers, ink permutates, mold compositions, pesticide carriers, rubber additives, wood floors, pet food, baby products, starch products, mouth feel additive in suspensions, paints, cosmetics, packaging, dairy products, salad dressings, baked goods and the like.

Example 1

[0025] Hydrolysis reactions were conducted in 1 liter, temperature controlled water baths utilizing "Lightnin" type agitators equipped with Ruskin turbine blends. Agitation was conducted at 500 rpms for the extent of the reaction.

[0026] For this example 100 gms of wetlap sulfatate HJ pulp was added to 900 gms of pH 2.9 buffer prepared in HCE. The reaction temperature was controlled at 65°C and enzyme levels (cytolase 123) tested at 0.5 g/l and 4.0 g/l. The reaction was carried out for 24 and 48 hours at which time samples were removed from the reaction vessel and denatured via vacuum filtration. Samples were then washed and subsequently denatured, as described, through 5 cycles, utilizing copious amounts of water until such time that the pH of the wash reached 7.0. Samples were then freeze dried and DP's measured. The DP results are listed below:

Enzyme Level	24 Hr.	48 Hr.
0.5 g/l	345	321
4.0 g/l	275	254

Example 2

[0027] A statistically designed, central composite study was initiated to fully optimize the conditions to obtain the lowest DP with economically feasible variables. The design centered around pH, temperature, enzyme level and utilized a cellulose preparation deleted of one exo-cellulose activity - specifically cellobiohydrolase I. The experiments and reactions were carried out as described in Example 1. The ranges studied in this test were as follows:

pH S levels ranging from 2.8 - 6.2;

Temperature S levels ranging from 46° - 63.5°C;

Enzyme cone S levels ranging from 0 - 2.5 g/l.

[0028] A DP of 296 was obtained (without shear) utilizing these conditions: pH = 3.5, temp = 55°C, enzyme = 2 g/l, time 24 hours, obtained yield of 90%.

Example 3

[0029] Enzyme preparation of cellulase with CBH 1&2 removed (16 g/l protein) was utilized in this example. Again, wetlap sulfatate HJ was used and experimental conditions were as previously described. Enzyme was tested at 8, 10 and 12 g/l; temperature was 55°C; pH 3.0 and all reactions carried out for 24 hours. A finished DP of 353 was achieved.

Example 4

[0030] Example 3 was repeated utilizing an enriched preparation of CBH 1&2 deleted enzyme product at 133 g/l of protein. Reaction conditions were identical and enzyme levels were tested at 2 and 3 g/l respectively.

[0031] Also incorporated into this example was a sample of the sulfatate HJ pulp which had been dried through the normal drying operations at the pulp mill.
Results are listed below:

Pulp	Enz Conc	DP/24 Hr
dry HJ	2 g/l	661
wet HJ	2 g/l	402
wet HJ	3 g/l	292

Example 5 (comparison)

[0032] A series of statistically designed experiments were run to screen a variety of pulps (both hard and softwoods) obtained in their normal commercial forms prepared as dry sheets of pulp received from the mills. Multiple variables were screened and included pH, temperature, enzyme level, time of hydrolysis, and one experiment utilizing various enzyme preparations. Results were analyzed by DP measurements. Hydrolysis reactions were carried out as described previously utilizing the Ruskin-Turbine blades at 500rpms. The data shown below summarizes the results of these screening experiments.

PULP TYPE	pH	TEMP.	ENZ. LEVEL	RXN. TIME	DP
Pontiac Maple	4.0	40°C	4.0g/l	24 hr.	694
St. Anne Ultra	4.0	40	4.0	24 hr.	701
Tembec	4.0	60	4.0	24	870
Temphite	4.0	60	4.0	24	744
St. Anne Reg.	4.0	60	4.0	24	727
HVX	4.0	60	4.0	24	623
Solka Floc40	4.0	60	4.0	24	748
Solka Floc200	4.0	60	4.0	24	670
NBH	4.0	60	4.0	24	744
Poplar	4.0	60	4.0	24	727
Aspen	4.0	60	4.0	24	623
St. Croix	4.0	60	4.0	24	748
Puget Alpha	4.0	60	4.0	24	670
Canfor	4.0	60	4.0	24
1072
Sulfatate HJ	4.0	60	4.0	24	838
Eucalyptus	4.0	60	4.0	24	656
Sulfatate HJ	2.35	55	2.0	24	510
Repap	4.0	60	4.0	24	565
Ga. Pacific	4.0	60	4.0	24	818
Sulfatate HJ
Cytolase 123	2.6	65	4.0	24	521
CBHl deleted	2.6	65	4.0	24	569
Mileszyme	2.6	65	4.0	24	626
Multifect	2.6	65	4.0	24	598
Celluzyme	2.6	65	4.0	24	803

Claims

1. A process for converting a cellulosic material to crystalline cellulose comprising subjecting the cellulosic material to hydrolysis using a cellulase enzyme at a temperature of 35-75°C, and at a pH of from 2.0 to 4.0, for a time sufficient to form crystalline cellulose having a crystallinity of at least 78% by X-ray diffraction and a degree of polymerization (DP) from 800 down to the level-off degree of polymerization (LODP) of the starting material, characterised in that the cellulosic material is a wetlap pulp cellulosic material, that has never been dried.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein the temperature is from 40-60°C.

3. The process of claim 2 wherein the temperature of the process is from 50-60°C.

4. The process of any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the pH of the process is from 2.5 to 3.5.

5. The process of claim 4 wherein the pH of the process is from 2.5 to 3.0.

6. The process of any one of the preceding claims wherein the starting cellulosic material is alpha cellulose obtained from fibrous plant material.

7. The process of claim 6 wherein the starting cellulosic material is a dissolving grade of wood pulp.

8. The process of any one of the preceding claims wherein the process is run for a sufficient time to form a cellulose having a crystallinity of at least 85% by X-Ray diffraction.

9. The process of any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the process is run for sufficient time such that the DP of the crystalline cellulose is greater than the LODP achievable with the cellulosic material and less than 75% of the original DP.

10. The process of any one of the preceding claims wherein the process is run for 24 hours or less.

11. The process of any one of the preceding claims wherein the cellulase enzyme is present at a concentration from 0.5g/l to 4.0g/l.

12. The process of claim 1 wherein crystalline cellulose is formed having a degree of polymerization (DP) in the range of 200 to 300.

Ansprüche

1. Verfahren zur Umwandlung von Cellulosematerial in kristalline Cellulose, umfassend das Hydrolysieren des Cellulosematerials unter Verwendung eines Cellulase-Enzyms bei einer Temperatur von 35 bis 75 °C und einem pH von 2,0 bis 4,0 für eine ausreichende Zeitspanne, um kristalline Cellulose mit einer durch Röntgenbeugung ermittelten Kristallinität von zumindest 78 % und einem Polymerisationsgrad (DP) von 800 bis hinunter zum Levelling-off-Polymerisationsgrad (LODP) des Ausgangsmaterials zu erhalten, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Cellulosematerial ein Nassschliffpulpen-Cellulosematerial ist, das nie getrocknet worden ist.

2. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, worin die Temperatur 40 bis 60 °C beträgt.

3. Verfahren nach Anspruch 2, worin die Temperatur 50 bis 60 °C beträgt.

4. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, worin der pH-Wert 2,5 bis 3,5 beträgt.

5. Verfahren nach Anspruch 4, worin der pH-Wert 2,5 bis 3,0 beträgt.

6. Verfahren nach einem der vorangegangenen Ansprüche, worin das Cellulose-Ausgangsmaterial eine aus Pflanzenfasermaterial erhaltene α-Cellulose ist.

7. Verfahren nach Anspruch 6, worin das Cellulose-Ausgangsmaterial eine Art von Chemiefaser-Holzzellstoff ist.

8. Verfahren nach einem der vorangegangenen Ansprüche, worin das Verfahren ausreichend lange durchgeführt wird, um eine Cellulose mit einer durch Röntgenbeugung ermittelten Kristallinität von zumindest 85 % zu erhalten.

9. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 7, worin das Verfahren ausreichend lange durchgeführt wird, damit der DP der kristallinen Cellulose größer als der LODP, der mit dem Cellulosematerial zu erreichen ist, und geringer als 75 % des ursprünglichen DP ist.

10. Verfahren nach einem der vorangegangenen Ansprüche. worin das Verfahren 24 h lang oder kürzer durchgeführt wird.

11. Verfahren nach einem der vorangegangenen Ansprüche, worin das Cellulase-Enzym in einer Konzentration von 0,5 g/l bis 4,0 g/l vorliegt.

12. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, worin kristalline Cellulose mit einem Polymerisationsgrad (DP) im Bereich von 200 bis 300 gebildet wird.

Revendications

1. Procédé de conversion d'une matière cellulosique en une cellulose cristalline, consistant à soumettre la matière cellulosique à une hydrolyse en utilisant une enzyme cellulase à une température de 35-75°C et à un pH de 2,0 à 4,0 pendant un temps suffisant pour former de la cellulose cristalline ayant une cristallinité d'au moins 78% par diffractométrie aux rayons X et un degré de polymérisation (DP) de 800 jusqu'au plus bas degré de polymérisation (LODP) de la matière première, caractérisé en ce que la matière cellulosique est une matière cellulosique de pulpe mouillée qui n'a jamais été séchée.

2. Procédé de la revendication 1, où la température est de 40-60°C.

3. Procédé de la revendication 2, où la température du procédé est de 50-60°C.

4. Procédé de l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, où le pH du procédé est de 2,5 à 3,0.

5. Procédé de la revendication 4 où le pH du procédé est de 2,5 à 3,0.

6. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, où la matière cellulosique de départ est de l'alpha cellulose obtenue d'une matière de plante fibreuse.

7. Procédé de la revendication 6, où la matière cellulosique de départ est une pulpe de bois de qualité se dissolvant.

8. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, où le procédé est effectué pendant un temps suffisant pour former une cellulose ayant une cristallinité d'au moins 85% par diffraction des rayons X.

9. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 7, où le procédé est effectué pendant un temps suffisant pour que DP de la cellulose cristalline soit plus grand que LODP que l'on peut obtenir avec la matière cellulosique et moins de 75% de DP d'origine.

10. Procédé de l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, où le procédé est effectué pendant 24 heures ou moins.

11. Procédé de l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, où l'enzyme cellulase est présente à une concentration de 0,5/l à 4,0g/l.

12. Procédé de la revendication 1, où de la cellulose cristalline est formée ayant un degré de polymérisation (DP) de la gamme de 200 à 300.